Adrian Adonis
Note: On July 4, 1988, Adrian Adonis, Pat Kelly, and Dave McKigney
were killed in a car accident in Lewisporte, Newfoundland.
Real Name: Keith Franke
Stats:
Birthday: 09/15/54
Wrestling Debut: 1974
Died:July 4, 1988
Major Federations: AWA, NWA, WWF
Finishing Moves: DDT, Goodnight Irene sleeper
Nickames: Adorable Adrian Adonis
Other Identities:Keith Franke
Tag Teams:East-West Connection with Jesse Ventura; North-South Connection
with Dick Murdoch
Hosted the Flower Shop on WWF Television.
Was once managed by Jimmy Hart
Titles Held
- NWA Americas Tag Team title: with Black Gordman. Defeated Victor Rivera
& Chavo Guerrero (1977). Lost to Tom Jones & Mando Guerrero
(4/25/77)
- NWA Americas Title: Defeated Hangman (5/13/77). Lost to Mando Guerrero
(5/20/77).
- NWA Americas Tag Team title: with Roddy Piper. Defeated Tom Jones &
Mando Guerrero (7/22/77). Lost to Jones & Guerrero (7/29/77).
- PNW Tag Team title: with Ron Starr. Defeated Roddy Piper & Killer
Brooks (4/3/79). Lost to Kiwi Sheepherders (Brute Miller & Luke
Williams) (7/21/79)
- AWA World Tag Team Title: with Jesse Ventura. Won via forfeit when Verne
Gagne no-showed a defense. Lost to High Flyers (Greg Gagne & Jim
Brunzell) (6/14/81)
- SCW Southwest Title: Defeated Bob Sweetan (4/15/83). Lost to Sweetan
(5/20/83).
- SCW Heavyweight Title: Defeated Bob Orton Jr. in a tournament final
(5/26/83). Lost to Scott Casey (8/30/83).
- WWF World Tag Team title: with Dick Murdock. Defeated Rocky Johnson &
Tony Atlas (4/17/84). Lost to Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham. (1/21/85).
Pro Wrestling Illustrated Achievement Awards
Major Matches
5/24/85: with Dick Murdoch, lost to Tatsumi Fujinami & Kengo Kimura in a
match for the vacant WWF/New Japan International Tag Team titles.
11/7/85: (Wrestling Classic) Pinned Cpl. Kirschner in round 1, lost to
Dynamite Kid in round 2
4/7/86: (WrestleMania II) Pinned Uncle Elmer
3/29/87: (WrestleMania III) Lost to Roddy Piper
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